Fostering Conversations with Utah Foster Care

Shifting the Focus. Policies on adoption have often focused on adoptive parents, rather than the well being of adoptees and birth parents. The Open Adoption Project podcast, hosted by Shaunn and Lanette Nelson, adoptive parents from Utah, are back with another crossover episode on Fostering Conversations.  They aim to flood the podcast sphere with adoption-related content, sharing perspectives and opinions to foster learning and...

Attachment In this podcast episode, hosts Deborah Lindner and Liz Rivera engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Lee Raby, a distinguished expert in attachment research from the University of Utah. The focal point is the critical role attachment plays in the development of children within the foster care system. The conversation kicks off by outlining the distinctions between love and attachment, emphasizing attachment's sig...

Curly Me! is a nonprofit that’s a resource for Utah families with children of color – specifically black girls between the ages of 5-14 years of age. In this episode, we hear more about “Change the World with Her” and other upcoming events. In 2021, Black chil­dren rep­re­sent­ed 14% of the total child pop­u­la­tion but 22% of all kids in fos­ter care. By com­par­i­son: White kids rep­re­sent 49% of the nation’s child pop­u­la­t...

In this insightful podcast episode, hosts Deborah Lindner and Liz Rivera explore the profound theme of "the gift of presence" with guest Ilse DeKoeyer. Delving into the challenges of staying fully present, especially during the hectic holiday season, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and practicing presence in parenting. Ilse defines presence as the art of balancing complete engagement with a reflective st...

Cadon Riley likes to express his voice through the lens of music. We were honored to have him join us to talk about his new song that he hopes will inspire other young people going through the foster care experience.  Riley is a student at Utah Tech.  He is also a mental health and foster care advocate.  He loves to share his experience, in and out of foster care, especially through singing and performing. Riley has a passion for h...

This month we are airing an episode from the podcast The Open Adoption Project by Lanette and Shaun Nelson. This episode shares the story of two mothers connected initially through their shared love for their children.

This episode discusses the challenges of foster care, drug addiction, and maintaining connectio...

This episode is a re-broadcast of Episode 29. It may surprise you to find out teens in foster care want and need lifelong connections – yet, when it comes to adopting, many families rarely consider older kids and teenagers. As Foster Youth Voice Month continues, our Fostering Conversations podcast examines the obstacles youth who age out of foster care face. Listen to the inspiring stories of youth who beat the odds – and ...

In this episode, we explore kinship's role in foster care.  September is Kinship Care Awareness month, and The Kinship Coalition says some 20,000 families in Utah are caring for at least one relative child. DCFS Kinship Supervisor Ashley Barton explores what it means to prioritize kin, and how foster parents can support these efforts.   Resources for Kinship Caregivers: U...

During a typical school day, our children can spend as much time in class as they do at home, which makes success at school all the more important. Tyler Bastian is director at Utah’s first farm-based charter high school and McKay Esplin is an LCSW and Utah Foster Care trainer.

In our latest episode, they offer insight on how parents and students can build and foster positive school re...

Support systems are crucial for young people who have experienced foster care. The 1999 Collective is a new community in Utah created by two people who have a wealth of knowledge and lived experience to share. Together, Natalie Clark and Alexa Hudson want to make sure young men and women are able to access all the education, housing, and other resources they need. 1999 Collective Services For those who've experienced foste...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains subjects that may be upsetting to some.  Please use discretion. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving environment, especially those in foster care who have already experienced trauma and displacement. However, queer kids in foster care face unique challenges and are often more vulnerable than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. It is essential for us as a society t...

First Lady Abby Cox has heard from countless foster families, teens and children about what the state of Utah can do to Show Up for Foster Care. She’s been sharing what she’s learned with her husband Governor Spencer Cox – and now, they share with us some of their goals for improving the lives of children and families in the coming months. To learn how you can get involved, check out the First Lady's Show Up Initiative or check ...

In this month’s episode we are joined by Community Champion Kristin Andrus. Kristin is the mother of six and part of the powerful team of women at The Policy Project, which seeks to "remove barriers to opportunity through solution-based policy." Kristin shares what she has learned from these youth she has met with around the state. Utah Foster Care’s Director of Education, Liz Rivera, shares tips for connecting with and communic...

In Utah, there are around 2,700 children in foster care at any given time and some 1,300 licensed foster/adoptive families. Children in foster care often have special needs due to neglect, abuse or separation. Substance abuse is a contributing factor in many foster care cases. Parenting a child with trauma can be challenging.  Luckily, our understandings of neuroscience gives us hope. In their collaborative book, 'What Happened ...

Becoming a foster parent takes a great deal of consideration, preparation, and patience faced with uncertainty. Family dynamics change when a new child comes into the home. Families willing to open their hearts and homes to a child in care will need support once they receive that initial call for placement.  While our journey to fostering may look different, we go into it for the same reason: to make a difference in the life of a c...

"Each year more than 10 million children in the United States endure the trauma of abuse, violence, natural disasters, and other adverse events. These experiences can give rise to significant emotional and behavioral problems that can profoundly disrupt the children’s lives and bring them in contact with child-serving professionals. For therapists, child welfare workers, case managers, and other helping professionals involved in th...

It's tempting to villainize first parents for the trauma caused by addiction, but we know that when foster parents and first parents can work together, the outcomes are better for the child. In this month's episode we hear from Utah Foster Mom Shari Peña. She doesn’t just take in the child, she takes in the whole family. This is a foster mom’s gift of connection. It began when a young mother’s children were placed in foster care...

It may surprise you to find out teens in foster care want and need lifelong connections – yet, when it comes to adopting, many families rarely consider older kids and teenagers. As National Adoption Month continues, our Fostering Conversations podcast examines the obstacles faced by youth who age out of foster care. Listen to the inspiring stories of youth who beat the odds – and learn the reality about teens in the foster ca...

Trauma Responses: Beyond Fight or Flight Childhood trauma can trigger a chronic “fight or flight” response, even when children are placed in safe, loving foster homes. How do caregivers deal with that response to build relationships? At Utah Foster Care’s Annual Symposium, Dr. George Thompson provided insight into how a trauma-informed system of care can play a critical role in establishing a sense of safety. A full re-cap of...